• Neff SM

• Adult
• Dislocations / therapy
• Male
• Manipulation, Chiropractic
• Physical Therapy Modalities
• Sternoclavicular Joint / injuries

Introduction: This paper presents a case report of conservative comanagement of a traumatic sternocleidal joint subluxation in an integrated veterans’ hospital setting.

Case Report/Methods: A male patient with a chronic traumatic sternocleidal dislocation is treated conservatively utilizing chiropractic manipulation and physical therapy. The patient’s pain was measured utilizing a Numeric Rating Scale. Manipulation was performed utilizing an instrument and was a manual force that was mechanically assisted. Physical therapy consisted of both therapeutic modalities and exercise prescription including cryotherapy, electric stimulation, exercises and stretches.

Results: The patient had substantial improvement in joint function, activities of daily living, and quality of life. His pain dropped from 7-8/10 to 0 /10 over ten weeks.

Discussion: This case contributes another method to treating traumatic sternocleidal subluxations, especially chronic ones where the other methods (surgery, towel clamp) would be too painful or not indicated. In this case it was shown to be effective in improving patient symptoms, quality of life, and joint function, and was tolerated well.

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